Two heads are almost always better than one, particularly if the one is mine.

Twenty-six are even better when it comes to tackling universal questions about cancer.

That’s how many of nearly three dozen of us responded to Sister Sue Tracy’s invitation to help her compile a booklet that “captures wisdom gleaned from being involved in the cancer journey ‘from the inside out.’ ” In one way or another, Sister Sue, four-time cancer survivor and oncology chaplain for Spectrum Health, has walked with each of us during cancer treatment.

The finished product, which will be shared with current patients, uses only first names to protect privacy. In sending us copies, she gave each of us the option to opt out of having our response shared in this column. No one has.

Today, we begin at the beginning, with excerpts from answers to the question:

Q: What was your initial reaction to hearing “You have cancer”?

If you’re an “outsider,” someone who’s never been diagnosed with cancer, the excerpts will tell you a great deal about what’s behind the faces of those who have been; if you’re an “insider” who’s been there done that, at least one of the responses likely will take you back ... and make you realize how far you’ve come.

Later columns will explore answers to some of her other questions. I answered in this March 17 column.

A: “I was scared ... I wanted it out now! I immediately went into the ‘fight’ mode. I declared war against my cancer. This would be no ‘journey’ for me.”-- Laura, first diagnosis 2011;
Breast cancer

A: “How is God going to carry me through this and what is He trying to teach me? Our whole lives are a learning process and we need to discover how this journey fits in. It is easy to try to blame a whole lot of different causes, but the fact is you have cancer and you need to deal with it.”-- Marlene, first diagnosis 2002;
Breast cancer that metastasized to the lung and abdomen

A: “I didn’t think it was a big deal. I thought, ‘OK, what do I have to do to get rid of it?’ The doctor told me. I said, ‘Really? That sucks.’ I really didn’t put much worry into it. No one in my family had cancer. I thought, ‘Oh, I have to have surgery and chemo and radiation after. Let’s get this over with 'so I can go back to normal daily life.’ So I did what I had to do. I didn’t think much about it until the cancer came back six months later.

“When the doctor told me at first that my cancer was not curable, only controllable, I didn’t seem to understand the reality of cancer, until it kept coming back and back. More radiation, then new chemo treatments. The tumors kept coming back. Now I feel the terrible side effects. I fear it more every day!”-- Edna, first diagnosis 2003;
Breast cancer metastasized to bones

A: “Even hearing it for the second major diagnosed cancer, I was still ‘a deer in the headlights’ – pure disbelief. From there, as before, I retreated and huddled close to those I loved. With their love and support I began to regroup, to get past the ‘why me’ and move on to information and resources that could help me understand my situation and help me find the best options available to treat my cancer.”-- Susan
Cancers: breast (2005), skin (2011), ovarian (2012)

A: “My initial reaction was bewilderment as I had no idea what was in store for me and who would take care of my family.

“It was later determined that the probable cause for my leukemia was exposure to Agent Orange during my tour as infantryman in Vietnam. I then had feelings of anger and self-pity thinking that my country had abandoned me. Why was I sent over there and why did they do this to me? I will say that the VA has stepped up and have been excellent to work with.

“Over time ... came an acceptance of the disease and willingness to learn to live with it. My mantra became, ‘I cannot do anything about it so enjoy whatever time I had left.’ In 2007, due to my depressed immunity, I contracted a fungal infection of the lung and was given a 15 percent chance of survival. Due to unwavering support, I not only survived but came even to working full time.

“In 2009 I was diagnosed with Stage 1 esophageal adenocarcinoma. My treatment options were limited due to the CLL. However, the expert staff at Mayo Rochester used experimental procedures, and now I am healing.

“I am faced every day with three potentially fatal diseases. Having all three and not only surviving but living a normal productive life is nothing short of a miracle.”-- Ron
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia, (1996); esophageal adenocarcinoma (2009)

Sue Schroder, former features editor for The Grand Rapids Press, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in late 2009. Email her at livenow.ss@gmail.com. For an index of her columns on MLive.com/grand-rapids, visit http://bit.ly/sueschroder.